Liquid container, liquid consumption device, and recording device

Abstract

To make the sedimentation component concentration of liquid to be supplied to the outside even in a liquid storage container which stores liquid that contains a sedimentation component and can supply the liquid to the outside.SOLUTION: A liquid storage container which stores liquid that contains a sedimentation component and can supply the liquid to the outside comprises: a storage part which stores the liquid; a supply port which opens to the outside of the storage part; a pipeline whose one end is connected to the supply port and whose the other end has a suction port that opens to the inside of the storage part; and agitation means which agitates the liquid stored in the storage part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid storage container, a liquid consumption device, and a recording device.

Background Art

[0002] Among the inks mounted in an inkjet recording device, those using pigment ink are known. Pigment ink has the advantage of high water resistance and light resistance. On the other hand, the pigment components contained in the ink settle in the liquid storage container, and when not used for a long time, the pigment component concentration becomes thin at the upper part of the liquid storage container and thick at the lower part, so density unevenness may occur during printing.

[0003] In contrast, a liquid storage container has been proposed that has a first flow path connecting a first suction port located vertically downward in the container and a supply port for supplying the liquid in the container to the outside, and a second flow path connecting a second suction port located vertically upward in the container and the supply port (Patent Document 1). In this liquid storage container, the liquid with a low pigment component concentration flowing in from the first suction port and the liquid with a high pigment component concentration flowing in from the second suction port are mixed at the supply port and supplied to the outside, aiming to supply a liquid with a uniform pigment component concentration to the outside.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The vertical distribution of pigment component concentration in a liquid container varies depending on the location within the container. Therefore, in the liquid container described in Patent Document 1, which draws and mixes liquid from specific positions above and below the liquid container in the vertical direction, the pigment component concentration of the liquid supplied to the outside may not be sufficiently uniform. Furthermore, because two flow channels, a first flow channel and a second flow channel, are required, the ratio of the amount of liquid that can be contained to the volume of the container may decrease. The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and aims to make the concentration of sediment component in the liquid supplied to the outside uniform in a liquid container that can contain and supply liquid containing sediment components to the outside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a liquid container that can contain a liquid containing a settling component and can supply the liquid to the outside, A storage section for containing the aforementioned liquid, Opening to the outside of the aforementioned housing First opening and, One end is the above First opening It is connected to the other end, and the other end opens into the interior of the housing. Second opening Piping to be connected, Equipped with, A stirring means for stirring the liquid contained in the container is provided. Near the second opening It is characterized by being equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention provides a liquid storage container capable of containing and supplying a liquid containing a settling component to the outside, and makes it possible to make the concentration of the settling component in the liquid supplied to the outside uniform. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Schematic perspective view of the recording device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Schematic perspective view of the tray in Embodiment 1 of the present invention [Figure 3]Schematic perspective view of a liquid container in Example 1 of the present invention [Figure 4] Exploded perspective view of the housing member in Embodiment 1 of the present invention [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view of the housing member in Embodiment 1 of the present invention [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of the suction member in Embodiment 1 of the present invention [Figure 7] This figure shows the state of the liquid during liquid supply in Example 1 of the present invention. [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view of the suction member in Embodiment 2 of the present invention [Figure 9] Cross-sectional view of the suction member in Embodiment 3 of the present invention [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] In the following description, components having the same function will be assigned the same number in the drawings, and their descriptions may be omitted. Each embodiment can be combined or modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to these embodiments only. (Example 1)

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium with a liquid supplied by a liquid consumption apparatus including the liquid storage container of the present invention. The recording apparatus 10 performs recording on the recording medium 108 by repeating the reciprocating movement (main scanning) of the recording head 101 in the X direction and the conveyance (sub-scanning) of the recording medium 108 such as a sheet in the Y direction at a predetermined pitch. The recording apparatus 10 selectively ejects a plurality of colors of liquid (pigment ink) from the recording head 101 in synchronization with these movements and lands them on the recording medium 108, thereby forming characters, symbols, images, etc. on the recording medium 108. Note that, as the recording medium 108, any medium can be used as long as it can form an image by landing ink droplets. For example, various materials and forms such as paper, cloth, the label surface of an optical disc, a plastic sheet, an OHP sheet, an envelope, etc. can be used as the recording medium 108.

[0012] In FIG. 1, the recording head 101 is slidably supported by two guide rails extending in the X direction, and is detachably mounted on a carriage 102 that linearly reciprocates in the X direction along the guide rails by driving means such as a motor (not shown). The recording medium 108 is conveyed in the Y direction intersecting the moving direction (X direction) of the carriage 102 by a conveyance roller 103 which is a conveyance means, in a state of facing the liquid ejection surface of the liquid ejection portion of the recording head 101. Thereby, the recording medium 108 receives the liquid ejected from the recording head 101.

[0013] The recording head 101 has a plurality of nozzle arrays for discharging liquids of different colors as a plurality of liquid discharge units. A plurality of independent trays 106 corresponding to the plurality of colors of the liquid discharged from the recording head 101 are detachably attached to the liquid supply unit 105 respectively. The liquid supply unit 105 and the recording head 101 are connected by a plurality of liquid supply tubes 107 corresponding to each of the plurality of trays 106. The tray 106 stores the liquid storage container 1 described later. By attaching the tray 106 to the liquid supply unit 105, it becomes possible to independently supply the liquids of each color stored inside the liquid storage container 1 to each nozzle array of the recording head 101.

[0014] In a non-recording area A, which is within the reciprocating movement range of the recording head 101 in the X direction and outside the passing range of the recording medium

【

[108] ]】, a recovery unit 104 is arranged to face the liquid discharge surface of the recording head 101. The recovery unit 104 includes a cap portion for capping the liquid discharge surface of the recording head 101, a suction mechanism for forcibly sucking the liquid with the liquid discharge port surface capped, a cleaning blade for wiping the dirt on the liquid discharge surface, and the like. The above-described suction operation is performed by the recovery unit 104 prior to the recording operation of the recording apparatus 10. Thereby, even when the recording apparatus 10 is operated after not being used for a long time, the recovery unit 104 performs the recovery process, so that the residual bubbles in the liquid discharge portion of the recording head 101 and the thickened liquid near the nozzles can be removed. Thereby, the variation in the discharge characteristics of the recording head 101 can be suppressed. The recording head 101 has a plurality of nozzle arrays for discharging liquids of different colors as a plurality of liquid discharge units. A plurality of independent trays 106 corresponding to the plurality of colors of the liquid discharged from the recording head 101 are detachably attached to the liquid supply unit 105 respectively. The liquid supply unit 105 and the recording head 101 are connected by a plurality of liquid supply tubes 107 corresponding to each of the plurality of trays 106. The tray 106 stores the liquid storage container 1 described later. By attaching the tray 106 to the liquid supply unit 105, it becomes possible to independently supply the liquids of each color stored inside the liquid storage container 1 to each nozzle array of the recording head 101.

[0015] The recording device 10 has a control unit 109 that controls the operation of each part of the recording device 10. The control unit 109 has a CPU (not shown), a memory for storing programs, input / output circuits, etc. The control unit 109 has input / output circuits that receive data such as images to be recorded on the recording medium 108 from external devices, operate the motors that drive the carriage 102 and transport rollers 103, and operate the liquid discharge operation by the recording head 101. In particular, the control unit 109 of Embodiment 1 controls the energization of the thin coil 64, which is a magnetic field generating member described later and is provided in the liquid container 1 stored in the tray 106, and the liquid supply operation from the liquid container 1 to the recording head 101.

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of each colored tray 106 installed in the liquid supply unit 105 of the recording device 10. The liquid container 1 is stored in the tray 106.

[0017] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the liquid container 1. The liquid container 1 contains ink, which is a liquid containing pigment components that settle, and can also supply ink to the outside (recording head 101). The liquid container 1 has a storage member 3 for containing the liquid, an opening 9 through which a spout 4 (described later) is inserted, a substrate 7 for exchanging power and information with the outside, and a connection part 8 for the liquid supply unit 105.

[0018] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the containment member 3. Figure 5(a) is a top view of the containment member 3 as seen from above in the vertical direction (Z direction in Figure 1) when in use, Figure 5(b) is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 5(a), and Figure 5(c) is a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 5(b). As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the containment member 3 consists of a containment section 2 for containing liquid and a supply port that opens to the outside of the containment section 2. (First opening) The spout 4, one end of which is connected to the spout 4 and the other end of which opens into the interior of the housing 2, is a suction port, which will be described later. (Second opening) It includes a pipe 5 that connects to it, and a suction member 6 having a suction port.

[0019] Figure 6(a) is a top view of the suction member 6 in the liquid container 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, viewed from above in the vertical direction (Z direction in Figure 1) when in use. Figure 6(b) is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 6(a), and Figure 6(c) is a front view of Figure 6(a) viewed from the Y direction. The suction member 6 has a suction port 60 that opens at a position below in the vertical direction when the liquid container 1 is in use, inside the storage section 2. The suction member 6 also has a thin coil 64 that is provided above the suction port 60 in the vertical direction when the liquid container 1 is in use, near the suction port 60. Wiring 65 made of a flexible substrate or the like is connected to the thin coil 64 to supply power from the outside. The thin coil 64 is a magnetic field generating member that generates a magnetic field by energizing through the wiring 65. The suction member 6 has a support section 68 that supports the wiring 65. The suction member 6 is provided at one end of the support section 68, and a spout 4 is provided at the other end. The wiring 65 is connected to a power supply (not shown) of the recording device 10 via the substrate 7 of the liquid container 1. The suction member 6 has a slit 63 formed by multiple gaps 67 extending in the X and Z directions arranged in the Y direction. The liquid container 1 of Embodiment 1 has one pipe 5.

[0020] When a liquid is drawn in through the suction port 60, a magnetic field is generated by passing current through the thin coil 64, which agitates the liquid inside the storage section 2. In other words, the thin coil 64 is an agitation means for agitating the liquid stored in the storage section 2, and in Embodiment 1, the agitation means is provided near the suction port 60 and has a thin coil 64, which is a magnetic field generating member that generates a magnetic field when current is passed through it.

[0021] When the control unit 109 of the recording device 10 performs a supply operation to draw liquid from the liquid container 1 stored in the tray 106 and supply it to the recording head 101, it first energizes the thin coil 64 to perform an agitation operation of the liquid contained in the liquid container 1. After performing the agitation operation, it starts the supply operation. This ensures that the pigment components contained in the liquid in the liquid container 1 are uniformly dispersed before the start of the supply operation, thus ensuring a uniform concentration of pigment components in the liquid drawn from the suction port 60. Furthermore, after the start of the liquid supply operation, the control unit 109 intermittently performs an agitation operation while the supply operation is in progress. For example, while the supply operation is being performed, the agitation operation is repeated for a predetermined first hour, with a predetermined second hour interval between each. The control unit 109 energizes the thin coil 64 during the first hour and stops energizing the thin coil 64 during the second hour. The first and second hours may be fixed values ​​or variable values ​​depending on the size of the recording medium 108 and the content of the recording, such as images. The first and second hours may be determined based on experimental observations of the sedimentation rate of the pigment components and the degree of diffusion of the pigment components due to the magnetic field generated by the thin coil 64, as well as theoretical calculations. By setting the second hour to zero, the thin coil 64 may be energized continuously during the supply operation to keep the stirring operation running.

[0022] This allows a liquid with a uniform pigment component concentration to be supplied to the outside of the liquid container 1 (recording head 101). Furthermore, since the liquid container 1 of Example 1 has only one pipe 5 connecting the inside of the storage section 2 and the spout 4, the ratio of the amount of liquid that can be stored to the volume of the liquid container 1 can be improved.

[0023] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the liquid in the storage section 2 of the liquid storage container 1 when the control unit 109 performs a liquid supply operation in the recording device 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 7(a) shows the state in which the pigment component 66 has settled in the liquid in the storage section 2 when the liquid supply operation has not been performed for some time. Figure 7(b) shows the state in which the pigment component 66 is diffused in the liquid by performing an stirring operation in which a magnetic field is generated by energizing the thin coil 64 and stirring the liquid near the thin coil 64 before the supply operation is performed. Figure 7(c) shows the state in which the stirring operation is stopped and the supply operation is started by stopping the energization of the thin coil 64 and stopping the generation of the magnetic field. In Figure 7(c), the arrows indicate the movement of the liquid and pigment component 66 being sucked into the suction port 60. The concentration of the pigment component 66 in the liquid around the thin coil 64 provided near the suction port 60 is made uniform by the stirring operation, and the liquid with a uniform concentration of pigment component 66 is sucked into the suction port 60. Figures 7(d) to 7(f) show the subsequent continuous supply operation. Figure 7(d) shows that the settled pigment components 66 have begun to diffuse to some extent due to the stirring effect of the liquid in the storage section 2 caused by the suction of liquid from the suction port 60. Figure 7(e) shows the state after two hours have passed since the stirring operation stopped in Figure 7(c), and the stirring operation has started again. The stirring operation has caused the settled pigment components 66 in the storage section 2 to diffuse even further. Figure 7(f) shows the state after one hour has passed since the start of the stirring operation in Figure 7(e), and the stirring operation has stopped. In this way, by intermittently performing the stirring operation during the supply operation, the pigment components 66 in the liquid near the suction port 60 in the storage section 2 are effectively diffused, so that a liquid with a uniform concentration of pigment components 66 can be supplied to the outside (recording head 101).

[0024] (Example 2) Figure 8(a) is a top view of the liquid container 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, viewed from above in the vertical direction (Z direction in Figure 1) when the suction member 6 is in use; Figure 8(b) is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 8(a); and Figure 8(c) is a front view of Figure 8(a) viewed from the Y direction. Compared to the configuration of Embodiment 1, in the liquid container 1 of Embodiment 2, the suction member 6 has a suction port 60 that opens at an upward position in the vertical direction when the liquid container 1 is in use, inside the storage section 2. The suction member 6 also has a thin coil 64 located near the suction port 60, positioned downward in the vertical direction when the liquid container 1 is in use relative to the suction port 60. Other configurations are the same as in Embodiment 1. Since they are similar, I will omit a detailed explanation.

[0025] Similar to Example 1, when liquid is drawn in from the suction port 60, a magnetic field is generated by energizing the thin coil 64, and the liquid inside the containment section 2 is agitated. This allows a liquid with a uniform pigment component concentration to be supplied to the outside of the liquid containment container 1 (recording head 101). Furthermore, since the liquid containment container 1 of Example 1 has only one pipe 5 connecting the inside of the containment section 2 and the spout 4, the ratio of the amount of liquid that can be contained to the volume of the liquid containment container 1 can be improved.

[0026] (Example 3) Figure 9(a) is a top view of the liquid container 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, viewed from above in the vertical direction (Z direction in Figure 1) when the suction member 6 is in use; Figure 9(b) is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 9(a); and Figure 9(c) is a front view of Figure 9(a) viewed from the Y direction. In contrast to the configurations of Embodiments 1 and 2, the liquid container 1 of Embodiment 3 has a plurality of pipes, namely the first pipe 51 and the second pipe 52, as the suction member 6. On the other hand The first pipe 51 has one end connected to the spout 4 and the other end opening to a first suction port 61 that is located vertically upward when the liquid container 1 is in use inside the storage section 2. (Third opening) Connect to it. The other The second pipe 52 has one end connected to the spout 4 and the other end opening to a second suction port 62 located vertically downward when the liquid container 1 is in use inside the storage section 2. (Fourth opening)It connects to the spout 4. The first pipe 51 and the second pipe 52 merge at the spout 4.

[0027] A first coil 641 and a second coil 642 are provided so as to surround the first suction port 61 and the second suction port 62, respectively. Power is supplied to the first coil 641 and the second coil 642 from the outside via wiring 65. The first coil 641 and the second coil 642 are magnetic field generating members that generate a magnetic field when energized via wiring 65, and are stirring members that stir the liquid around the first coil 641 and the second coil 642 with the magnetic field. When liquid is drawn in from the first suction port 61 and the second suction port 62, a magnetic field is generated by energizing the first coil 641 and the second coil 642. As a result, the liquid inside the storage section 2 is stirred around the first coil 641 and the second coil 642, especially in the vicinity of the first suction port 61 and the second suction port 62. This makes it possible to supply liquid with a uniform pigment component concentration to the outside of the liquid storage container 1 (recording head 101).

[0028] In Example 3, a configuration was described using a setup with two suction ports surrounded by coils and multiple pipes. However, similar to Examples 1 and 2, a configuration with one suction port surrounded by a thin coil and one pipe is also possible.

[0029] In the embodiments described above, an example was explained in which a coil that generates a magnetic field when energized, which is a magnetic field generating member, is provided as a stirring means for stirring the liquid contained in the storage section 2 of the liquid storage container 1. Furthermore, an example was described in which the coil is provided near a suction port that opens into the inside of the storage section. However, the position of the stirring member such as a coil may be any position on the support section 68 or any position on the suction member 6 such as a slit 63, as long as it is a position in which the liquid contained in the storage section 2 can be stirred. In this case, the stirring member may be provided so as to be able to stir the fluid near the suction port, or so as to be able to stir the entire fluid inside the storage section 2. In addition, a support section 68 may be provided extending from any position on the storage member 3, separate from the piping 5 to which the spout 4 and the suction port of the suction member 6 are connected at both ends, and a stirring means such as a coil may be provided at its tip. Moreover, the stirring means is not limited to a magnetic field generating member as long as it is a means that can stir the liquid contained in the storage section 2. For example, a component that agitates the fluid by physically contacting and acting upon it, such as a screw driven by an electric current, may be provided, or a component that agitates the liquid using means that locally fluctuate the fluid pressure, such as a piezoelectric element, may be provided.

[0030] This embodiment includes the following configurations and methods. (Composition 1) A liquid container capable of containing a liquid containing a settling component and supplying the liquid to the outside, A storage section for containing the aforementioned liquid, A supply port opening to the outside of the aforementioned housing section, A pipe having one end connected to the supply port and the other end connected to a suction port opening into the interior of the housing, Equipped with, A liquid storage container characterized by comprising a stirring means for stirring the liquid contained in the storage section. (Configuration 2) The liquid container according to configuration 1, wherein the stirring means is provided near the suction port and has a magnetic field generating member that generates a magnetic field when an electric current is applied. (Composition 3) The liquid container described in configuration 2 is a coil, wherein the magnetic field generating member is a coil. (Composition 4) A liquid container according to configuration 2 or 3, having wiring for supplying power to the magnetic field generating member from an external source. (Composition 5) The stirring means is provided below the suction port in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use, as described in any one of configurations 1 to 4. (Composition 6) The stirring means is provided above the suction port in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use, as described in any one of the configurations 1 to 4 for the liquid container. (Composition 7) The stirring means is provided so as to surround the suction port, and is a liquid container according to any one of the configurations 1 to 4. (Composition 8) The liquid container according to any one of the configurations 1 to 7, wherein the suction port opens at a position lower in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. (Composition 9) The liquid container according to any one of the configurations 1 to 7, wherein the suction port opens at an upward position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. (Composition 10) The system comprises multiple of the aforementioned pipes, The first suction port to which the first pipe of the aforementioned plurality of pipes is connected opens at an upward position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. The liquid container according to any one of the configurations 1 to 7, wherein the second suction port to which the second pipe of the plurality of pipes is connected opens at a lower position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. (Composition 11) The liquid container according to any one of the configurations 1 to 10, wherein the liquid is an ink containing a pigment component as a settling component. (Composition 12) A liquid container described in any one of items 1 to 11, A liquid consumption device comprising control means for controlling the operation of the stirring means and the operation of supplying the liquid from the supply port to the outside. (Composition 13) The control means stirs the liquid contained in the liquid container by the stirring means. A liquid consumption device according to configuration 12, which controls the device to start supplying the liquid after performing a stirring operation. (Composition 14) The liquid consumption device according to configuration 12 or 13, wherein the control means intermittently performs the stirring operation of the liquid by the stirring means while the liquid supply operation is being performed. (Composition 15) A recording device comprising a liquid consumption device described in any one of items 12 to 14, which records onto a recording medium using the liquid supplied by the liquid consumption device. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 1 Liquid container, 2 Storage section, 4 Spout, 5 Piping, 60 Suction port, 64 Thin coil

Claims

1. A liquid container capable of containing a liquid containing a settling component and supplying the liquid to the outside, A storage section for containing the aforementioned liquid, A first opening that opens to the outside of the housing section, A pipe having one end connected to the first opening and the other end connected to a second opening that opens into the interior of the housing, A stirring means located near the second opening for stirring the liquid contained in the containment section, Equipped with, The aforementioned stirring means is a liquid container characterized by having a magnetic field generating member that generates a magnetic field when an electric current is applied.

2. A liquid container capable of containing a liquid containing a settling component and supplying the liquid to the outside, A storage section for containing the aforementioned liquid, A first opening that opens to the outside of the housing section, A pipe having one end connected to the first opening and the other end connected to a second opening that opens into the interior of the housing, A stirring means located near the second opening for stirring the liquid contained in the containment section, Equipped with, The liquid container is characterized in that the stirring means is provided above the second opening in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use.

3. A liquid container capable of containing a liquid containing a settling component and supplying the liquid to the outside, A storage section for containing the aforementioned liquid, A first opening that opens to the outside of the housing section, A pipe having one end connected to the first opening and the other end connected to a second opening that opens into the interior of the housing, A stirring means located near the second opening for stirring the liquid contained in the containment section, Equipped with, A liquid container characterized in that the second opening is located at an upward position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use, within the storage section.

4. A liquid container capable of containing a liquid containing a settling component and supplying the liquid to the outside, A storage section for containing the aforementioned liquid, A first opening that opens to the outside of the housing section, A first pipe having one end connected to the first opening and the other end connected to a second opening that opens into the interior of the housing, A second pipe having one end connected to the first opening and the other end connected to a third opening that opens into the interior of the housing, A stirring means located near the second opening for stirring the liquid contained in the containment section, Equipped with, The second opening to which the first pipe is connected opens at an upward position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. The third opening to which the second pipe is connected opens at a lower position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. A liquid container characterized in that the first pipe and the second pipe merge at the first opening.

5. The liquid container according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the stirring means has a magnetic field generating member that generates a magnetic field when an electric current is applied.

6. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generating member is a coil.

7. A liquid container according to claim 1 or 6, having wiring for supplying power to the magnetic field generating member from the outside.

8. The liquid container according to claim 1, 3, or 4, wherein the stirring means is provided below the second opening in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use.

9. The liquid container according to claim 1, 3, or 4, wherein the stirring means is provided above the second opening in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use.

10. The liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stirring means is provided so as to surround the second opening.

11. The liquid container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second opening is located at a lower position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use, within the storage section.

12. The liquid container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second opening is located at an upward position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use, within the storage section.

13. The piping is a first piping, The liquid container further comprises a second pipe, one end of which is connected to the first opening and the other end of which is connected to a third opening that opens into the interior of the container. The second opening to which the first pipe is connected opens at an upward position in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. The third opening to which the second pipe is connected opens at a position lower in the vertical direction when the liquid container is in use inside the storage section. The liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first pipe and the second pipe merge at the first opening.

14. The liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the liquid is an ink containing a pigment component as a settling component.

15. A liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is detachable from a recording device configured to record on a recording medium using a liquid.

16. A liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A liquid consumption device comprising control means for controlling the operation of the stirring means and the operation of supplying the liquid to the outside from the first opening.

17. In a liquid consumption device, (i) A liquid container capable of containing a liquid containing a settling component and supplying the liquid to the outside, (i-i) A storage section for containing the liquid, (i-ii) A first opening that opens to the outside of the housing, and a pipe having one end connected to the first opening and the other end connected to a second opening that opens to the inside of the housing, (i-iii) A stirring means located near the second opening for stirring the liquid contained in the containment section, A liquid container equipped with, (ii) Control means for controlling the operation of the stirring means and the operation of supplying the liquid to the outside from the first opening, Equipped with, The liquid consumption device is characterized in that the control means controls the start of the liquid supply operation after the stirring operation is performed by the stirring means to stir the liquid contained in the liquid container.

18. The liquid consumption device according to claim 16, wherein the control means controls the start of the liquid supply operation after the stirring operation is performed by the stirring means to stir the liquid contained in the liquid container.

19. The liquid consumption device according to claim 16, wherein the control means intermittently performs the stirring operation of the liquid by the stirring means while the liquid supply operation is being performed.

20. The liquid consumption device according to claim 16, A recording head that discharges the liquid supplied by the liquid consumption device, A transport means for transporting the medium to which the discharged liquid will be impacted, A recording operation control means for controlling the ejection operation from the recording head and the transport operation of the transport means, A recording device equipped with this device.

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